Childrens Play Sand Or Natural Coloured Gravel (10mm)

[KingOfTheSea]

Hey, im setting up my tank again and hoping to have it planted but still need to get the basics right. What would you say is better, play sand or natural small gravel?

Which do you think looks better?

and

Which will be best for growing plants in?

thanks

 

[shrimply]

Well out of those choices the play sand is probably the better choice. But it really is personal preference.

But personally I'd choose gravel (and have) but at a size of 3 - 5mm.

When choosing an inert substrate as long as the plants roots can grow through it then it fine. To be honest the plants wouldn't struggle too much with the 10mm gravel but they'd probably prefer something finer and planting in thicker gravel is not much fun. Finer substrates are much easier to push the plants into.

I'm sure though someone with more experience will come along and give you a better answer.

 

[baron von bubba]

Hey, im setting up my tank again and hoping to have it planted but still need to get the basics right. What would you say is better, play sand or natural small gravel?

Which do you think looks better?

and

Which will be best for growing plants in?

thanks

i'd say the 10mm gravel would be a bit course, the sand would be better.
personally i'd use a nutritious substrate under the sand tho, in the process of setting up a low tech tank myself and probably going to use potting soil capped with fine gravel, seems a good low cost option!

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Oh cool, thanks for the quick replies.

I have just remembered I have a load of red sand stored away that i used to use. If i remember rightly i think its about the consistancy of granulated sugar.

Im just wondering whats going to be easiest for the plants to grow in.

Also is there a brand of nutritious substrate i could look up?

thanks again for the help

 

[Jallen]

Oh cool, thanks for the quick replies.

I have just remembered I have a load of red sand stored away that i used to use. If i remember rightly i think its about the consistancy of granulated sugar.

Im just wondering whats going to be easiest for the plants to grow in.

Also is there a brand of nutritious substrate i could look up?

thanks again for the help

This red sand sounds absolutely awesome.

I think eco-complete is one of the most popular plant substrates but it's expensive.

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Yeah, its weird how much the red sand brings out the green in plants. Also thanks i will look eco complete up now.

 

[baron von bubba]

Yeah, its weird how much the red sand brings out the green in plants. Also thanks i will look eco complete up now.

there are many different types of substrate, if you are on a tight budget, then potting soil or cat litter is a viable option.
if however money is not a consideration then the oliver knott substrate seems to be getting raved about a bit.

i think eco complete is not nutritious as such, but it removes nutrients from the water column which are then available to the roots, this is pretty much how the cat litter would work.

do plenty of reading, obviously like everything in the hobby, there is not often a right or wrong way, just different ways for different situations/budgets etc.